Rookie Karl Joseph has been out a while with a toe injury, but the Raiders fared well at strong safety thanks to quality play from Nate Allen. The veteran reserve has extended experience as a starter, and worked well with Reggie Nelson in the defensive backfield.

A stable position got shaky early in Sunday’s 24-6 loss at Denver, when Allen suffered a concussion and did not return. Keith McGill was the next man up, but he was terrible. He struggled to make tackles, and got a quick hook.

Coaches turned to special teams ace Brynden Trawick, a safety by trade who doesn’t play much defense. Before Sunday, he played two defensive snaps.

Trawick played 50 against the Broncos. He performed well despite a lack of practice reps, recording nine tackles, a pass defensed and his first career interception.

If Allen or Joseph can’t play Saturday’s playoff opener at Houston – Joseph is getting closer to a return -- Trawick could be the primary backup. If neither guy can go, Trawick could start an important game.

Mario Edwards Jr.’s snap count was low in his second game back from a hip injury, though he is likely only in certain packages. He played 17 defensive snaps and had two tackles. He’s been a reserve to this point, but could play a starter’s snaps in the postseason. The Raiders need his interior pass rush and run defense against the Texans.

Quarterback Matt McGloin played 22 snaps before leaving with an injured neck/shoulder. Connor Cook took over late in the second quarter and played 32 snaps in nine series.

Left tackle Donald Penn missed some snaps with a bum knee, but was able to return and finish the game.

Source: Raiders trading veteran WR Patterson to Patriots

Source: Raiders trading veteran WR Patterson to Patriots

The Raiders are trading receiver/kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson to the New England Patriots, a league source told NBC Sports Bay Area on Sunday afternoon.

The Raiders will receive a fifth-round pick, while sending a sixth-round pick back to New England, according to the NFL Network. Patterson must pass a physical to complete the transaction, NFL Network is also reporting.

The moved frees $3.25 million in salary cap space for a Raiders team that was up against the NFL spending threshold. Former Washington receiver Ryan Grant is reportedly visiting the Raiders’ Alameda complex soon. Grant is available after a failed physical voided his free-agent deal with Baltimore. He passed a physical in Indianapolis, NFL Network reported, but left the Colts without a contract. Grant is a surehanded target who averaged 12.7 yards per receptions and had just three drops in 63 targets.

The Raiders will likely add another receiver if Grant doesn't come aboard. One of head coach Jon Gruden's preference could be found in the NFL draft if Grant goes elsewhere.

The Raiders also added receiver Griff Whalen, a Stanford alum who has some returning experience, before free agency began.

Patterson proved a productive, explosive member of last year’s offense, primarily as a gadget player. Patterson finished the season with 31 catches for 309 yards, and had 13 receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

He never became a steady, standard receiving option, and wasn’t able to shed his reputation as a relatively poor route runner. That likely made him expendable in Gruden’s eye. He needs quality routes and steady hands from his wideouts.

That outweighs Patterson’s prowess returning kickoffs. The two-time All-Pro averages 30.2 yards per kickoff return over five seasons, with five return touchdowns to his credit.

The Patriots are well known for excellent special teams play, and needed a returner with Dion Lewis leaving for Tennessee in free agent. The Super Bowl runners up now have a dynamic returner and gunner to pair with solid coverage and return units.